This is unfair!

Yes, it might seem that way.

Some gas stations are owned and operated by refiners, and others are independent businesses that purchase gasoline from refiners for resale, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's website.

Distributors, or wholesalers, who bring the fuel to retailers, set the price. They have the ability to offer competitive retail prices to the gas stations that are higher-volume purchasers, said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.

"Volume is what impacts price," he said. "Gettysburg is a very well-known tourism area, and tourists are generally less price-sensitive when traveling, especially when they're coming in from out of state. Their main interest is getting to a destination; what they pay for gas is almost secondary."

So again, why am I seeing higher prices?

Gettysburg's population density includes more than 4,500 people per square mile.

A heavy density means there's a high volume of people coming in and out of the area, Laskoski said. More gasoline is delivered, more people are purchasing it, and more gas stations are in the area.

But why do gas prices range from $2.35 to $2.49 around Gettysburg?

In addition to population density, an increased number of gas stations around the borough can affect price. For example, although Steinwehr Avenue is a popular tourist area, the station nearby on Baltimore Street has a lower price than surrounding outlets.